Omanghana
The group stage of the 2026 WAFU Zone B Women’s Champions League Qualifiers has concluded in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, setting the stage for the decisive knockout rounds.
The competition has delivered competitive matches, emerging young talent and surprising results as domestic champions from across West Africa battle for qualification to the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies produced the most consistent performance of the group stage, finishing as the only team to maintain a perfect winning record.
Ampem Darkoa secured first place in Group B after staging a determined comeback to defeat Nigeria’s Edo Queens 2–1. The Ghanaian side completed the group phase with seven goals scored and only one conceded, highlighting its effectiveness at both ends of the pitch.
The victory over Edo Queens also demonstrated Ampem Darkoa’s ability to respond under pressure against one of the tournament’s strongest attacking teams.
Despite losing to the Ghanaian champions, Edo Queens ended the group stage as the competition’s most prolific side, scoring 11 goals in three matches.
The Nigerian club’s attacking output was strengthened by impressive performances from several emerging players. Esther Moses recorded a hat-trick during the group campaign, while 16-year-old Oluwakemi Adegbuyi also attracted attention with her displays.
Their performances have further highlighted the quality of young talent developing through the Nigeria Women Football League.
Host club USFA also enjoyed an impressive group-stage campaign. The Burkinabé champions topped Group A after recording consecutive victories without conceding a goal.
USFA combined defensive organization with clinical finishing to finish the group phase with a goal difference of plus eight. Playing on home soil, the club established itself as one of the leading contenders for the qualification ticket.
One of the tournament’s biggest surprises was the early elimination of defending champions ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast.
The holders failed to advance beyond the group stage, illustrating the growing competitiveness of women’s club football within WAFU Zone B. Their exit also suggests that the gap between the region’s leading teams and emerging challengers continues to narrow.
Attention now turns to the semi-finals at the Stade du 4 Août in Ouagadougou, where the remaining clubs will compete for places in the final.
The knockout matches are expected to provide another stern test for the qualified teams, with little room for error as they move closer to securing the zone’s place at the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Beyond qualification, the tournament continues to offer players and clubs an important platform to gain international exposure and test themselves against champions from neighboring countries.
The performances recorded during the group stage have demonstrated the steady progress being made in the quality, visibility and competitiveness of women’s club football across West Africa.
Source: Omanghana
